Oregon Open: Evans Wins Biggest Tour Title

Emyr Evans claimed the biggest title of his career by beating Spencer Lovejoy in the Oregon Open final. 

The No.3 seed had come from a game down to beat top seed Faraz Khan in the semi-finals, and carried that momentum into the opening stages of game one in this final. 

He found himself 7-2 up after just six minutes, and while the American threatened to make a comeback, closing the gap to 9-7 at one stage, the Welshman was able to hold on and take a one-game lead. 

The second was a game that swung one way, then the other. 

Evans won the opening three rallies to claim an early advantage, before Lovejoy turned the tides to win the next five points. 

The pair then went toe-to-toe through the next few minutes, but once again it was Evans who pulled clear when it mattered most, winning 11-9 to move within one game of glory. 

From 5-2 down in the third, Evans went on a run of winning seven straight points to move to the brink of victory at 9-5 up. 

But closing out victory here was never going to be easy. 

The Welshman’s only previous PSA Tour title came in the 5k Sutton Coldfield International last year – ending a run of seven straight defeats in tour finals – and Lovejoy was in no mood to gift him a second, claiming the next three points to make it 9-8. 

Evans won the next to set up two match balls, both of which were saved by the No.2 seed, who then had game balls himself at 11-10 and 12-10. 

He was unable to convert either, though, and Evans made his next opportunity count, hitting a backhand drop shot winner to wrap up an 11-8, 11-9, 14-12 victory, securing his first PSA Challenger Tour 15 trophy. 

Result: Men’s Final 

[3] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [2] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 14-12 (53m)